The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Eric R. Carlson, DMD, MD, FACS

Professor and Chair

Clinical Focus

Benign and malignant tumors of the oral cavity, head, and neck, salivary gland surgery, and reconstructive Surgery

Research Focus

Translational research initiatives focus on the identification of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral and oropharyngeal cancer and the preoperative staging of head and neck cancer with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and a variety of tracers. The ability to detect a specific carcinogen and proper staging of these cancers is of important prognostic value.

Additionally, Dr. Carlson has been engaged in elucidating the relationship between adult learning theory and professional development of faculty, a relatively new concept in academic medical centers. To this end, his work centers on technical and adaptive challenges in the development of faculty. At the core of adaptive challenges is the recognition that mindsets form the basis for faculty development and higher orders of consciousness are realized when growth mindsets are assumed by faculty members. Retention of productive faculty and effective teaching of residents are the end results.

Education

Dental School
DMD, University of Pennsylvania, 1985

Medical School
University of Miami, 2000

Residency
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, 1989
General Surgery, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, 2003

Fellowship
Tumor and Reconstructive Surgery, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 1990

Certifications

Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American College of Surgeons

Published Books

Halpern LR, Carlson ER (eds): Education in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: An Evolving Paradigm. Elsevier, 2022.

Fonseca R (Ed), Powers MP, Frost DE, Carlson ER, Ness GM, Turvey T, Costello BJ, Ruiz R (Associate Eds): Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 3rd Edition. St. Louis: Elsevier, 2017.

Carlson ER, McDonald J, Nicolaievsky E (eds): The Luckiest Man: A Festschrift in Honor of Robert E. Marx, DDS. Chicago: Quintessence, 2016.

Carlson ER, Ord RA (eds): Salivary gland pathology-Diagnosis and management, 2nd edition. Hoboken: Wiley Blackwell, 2015.

Published Book Chapters

Carlson ER, Lee A: Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. In: Atlas of Operative Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2nd edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Chapter 69, 2023.

Carlson ER: Surgical management of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws. In: Atlas of Operative Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2nd edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Chapter 15, 2023.

Carlson ER, Lee A: Submandibular gland excision. In: Atlas of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2nd edition, Elsevier, Chapter 99, 2023.

Carlson, ER, Winstead ML: Cysts and Benign Tumors of the Jaws. In: Bailey and Love's Essential Operations in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, CRC Press, Chapter 6, 2023.

Carlson ER, Oreadi D, Hechler B: Ablative oral/head and neck surgery. In: Management of Complications in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2nd addition, Wiley-Blackwell, Chapter 13, 2022.

Carlson ER, Kelley J, Subramanian J: Lip cancer. In: Oral, Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery, St. Louis: Elsevier, Chapter 13, 608-625, 2017.

Carlson ER, Langdon JD, Ord RA, Brennan P, Patel MF: Cysts of the jaws, face and neck. In: Operative Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 3rd edition, London: CRC Presss, Chapter 9, 91-100, 2017.

Carlson ER, Campbell J: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. In: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 3rd Edition. St. Louis: Elsevier, Chapter 22, p.523-533, 2017.

Carlson ER, Williams J: Locally aggressive benign jaw tumors. In: Maxillofacial Surgery 3rd Edition, St. Louis: Elsevier, Chapter 30, 451-472, 2017.

Carlson ER, Lam D: Pathology. In: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Review: A Study Guide. Hanover Park: Quintessence, Chapter 7, 195-273, 2015.

Carlson ER, Lee A: Submandibular gland excision. In: Kademani D, Tiwana P (eds), Carlson ER, Dierks E, Fattahi T, Finn R, Ghali GE, Herford A, Hughes P, Sinn D, Steed M, Ward B, Zuniga J (section editors): Atlas of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. St. Louis: Elsevier, Chapter 87, 896-910, 2015.

Carlson ER, Lee A: Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. In Haggerty C, Laughlin R (eds): Atlas of Operative Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Ames, Iowa, Wiley-Blackwell, Chapter 51, 459-465, 2015.

Carlson ER, Kang E: Odontogenic and non-odontogenic cysts. In: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Knowledge Update,Volume V.

Current Publications

Clegg DJ, Deek AJ, Salomon BJ, Blackburn C, Fahmy MD, Heidel RE, Stephenson SM, Herbig KS, Chun JT, Carlson ER, Boukovalas S..
Mandible reconstruction in a rural population: Comparison of radial forearm and free fibula flap outcomes. J Craniofac Surg. 2024 Jan-Feb 01;35(1):119-124. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000009832. Epub 2023 Nov 8.

Carlson ER, Kademani D, Ward B, Oreadi D.
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon's position paper on oral mucosal dysplasia. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2023 May 6:S0278-2391(23)00397-X. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2023.04.017. Online ahead of print.

Carlson ER.
The enneagram: A development framework for faculty. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Jun 22:S0278-2391(22)00483-9. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2022.06.007. Online ahead of print.

Ruggiero SL, Dodson TB, Aghaloo T, Carlson ER, Ward BB, Kademani D.
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons' position paper on medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws-2022 Update. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 May;80(5):920-943. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2022.02.008. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Fahmy MD, Clegg D, Belcastro A, Smith BD, Eric Heidel R, Carlson ER, Hechler B.
Are throat pain and otalgia predictive of perineural invasion in squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Feb;80(2):363-371. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2021.08.265. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Fahmy MD, Clegg D, Belcastro A, Smith BD, Heidel ER, Carlson ER, Hechler B.
Are throat pain and otalgia predictive of perineural invasion in squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx? Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2021 Sep 6:S0278-2391(21)01102-2. Available in PubMed: Oct 2021. [Epub ahead of print]

Carlson ER, Heidel RE, Houston K, Vahdani S, Winstead M.
Tracheotomies in COVID-19 patient: Protocols and outcomes. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2021 Mar 12:S0278-2391(21)00237-8. Available in PubMed: Apr 2021. [Epub ahead of print]

Harris JA, McCain JP, Carlson ER, Ji YD.
Assessment of intraoperative time for head and neck cancer surgeries compared with Medicare work time. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2021 Feb;79(2):483-489. Epub 2020 Aug 28.

Fahmy MD, Hechler BL, Carlson ER, Gross AJ, Heidel RE.
Preoperative serum albumin predicts wound dehiscence but not infection after surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2021 Jan 15:S0278-2391(20)31519-6. [Epub ahead of print]

Current Presentations

Carlson ER. Management of salivary gland pathology. Presented at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Review; 2023 December - 14; Virtual.

Carlson ER. Management of ameloblastoma. Presented at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Review; 2023 December - 14; Virtual.

Carlson ER. Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws update 2023 - virtual. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 105th Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions, and Exhibition; 2023 September 22; Virtual, California.

Carlson ER. Innovations in teaching and education innovations in surgical education: OMS faculty section annual meeting educational program. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 105th Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions and Exhibition; 2023 September 22; San Diego, California.

Carlson ER. American association of oral and maxillofacial surgeons position paper on oral mucosal dysplasia pathology track hot-off-the-press and abstract session. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 105th Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions and Exhibition; 2023 September 21; San Diego, California.

Carlson ER. Treatment of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws operative management pathology plenary a contemporary update with management strategies for MRONJ. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 105th Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions and Exhibition; 2023 September 21; San Diego, California.

Carlson ER. Odontogenic malignancies symposium - head and neck surgery and reconstruction: Current concepts and controversies. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 105th Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions and Exhibition; 2023 September 20; San Diego, California.

Carlson, Eric R. Update and controversies in the surgical management of oral/head and neck pathology Presented at 30th Annual Robert Allen Lecture; 2023 April - 13; Kansas City .

Carlson ER. The ultimate debate in MRONJ- surgery vs. non-surgery Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Clinical and Scientific Innovation in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; 2023 March - 11; Rosemont, Illinois.

Carlson ER. The five things I’ve learned along the way. Presented at The five things I’ve learned along the way; 2021 December-18; Nashville, Tennessee.

Clegg D, Deek A, Salomon B, Heidel RE, Chun JT, Herbig KS, Stephenson SM, Carlson ER, Boukovalas S. Outcomes of Mandibular Reconstruction in a Rural Population: IS the Free Fibula Flap the Best Choice for All Patients? Presented at The Meeting; 2022 October-28; Boston, MA.

Carlson ER. Medication related to osteonecrosis of the jaws-Update 2022. Presented at Georgia Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Summer Meeting; 2022 August-14; Greensboro, Georgia.

Carlson ER. Malignant Odontogenic Tumors. Presented at 8th World Congress of the International Academy of Oral Oncology; 2022 June-23; Knoxville, Tennessee.

Carlson ER. Updated guidelines on medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws. Presented at University of New Mexico Bone Health ECHO Program; 2022 June-7; Virtual.

Carlson ER. HPV related oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Presented at A Tribute to the Transformational Career Accomplishments of Dr. Robert E. Marx; 2022 May-7; Orlando, Florida.

Carlson ER. Management of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology -Update 2021. Presented at Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; 2022 January-22; Denver, Colorado.

Carlson ER. Malignant Jaw Tumors. Presented at Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Grand Rounds; 2022 January-20; Virtual.

Deek A, Scott CA, Fahmy MD, Carlson ER, Hechler BL. Preoperative lab values and wound healing following facial trauma surgery: Which values predict postoperative complications? Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 103rd Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions, and Exhibition (Invited Lecture); 2021 Sep 27 - Oct 2; Nashville, TN.

Carlson ER. Malignant odontogenic tumors, Pathology Plenary: Contemporary management of odontogenic cysts, tumors, and related syndromes. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 103rd Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions, and Exhibition (Invited Lecture); 2021 Sep 27 - Oct 2; Nashville, TN.

Carlson ER. Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaws – Update 2021, On demand session. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 103rd Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions, and Exhibition (Invited Lecture); 2021 Sep 27 - Oct 2; Nashville, TN.

Carlson ER. Tracheotomies in COVID-19 patients: Protocols and outcomes, Pathology and Head & Neck Tracks: Hot off the press session. Presented at American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 103rd Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions, and Exhibition (Invited Lecture); 2021 Sep 27 - Oct 2; Nashville, TN.

Carlson ER. Lifelong learning. A construct for faculty development. Presented at Educator’s Summit American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Invited Lecture); 2021 Sep 29-30; Nashville, TN.

Carlson ER. COVID-19 and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Presented at Tennessee Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Invited Lecture); 2021 Aug 21; Franklin, TN.

Carlson ER. Oral/head and neck surgical pathology. Presented at Louisiana State University’s 47th Annual Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Review (Invited Lecture); 2021 Jun 2-3; New Orleans, LA.

Carlson ER. Principles of surgical management of malignant salivary gland tumors. Presented at Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Grand Rounds (Invited Lecture); 2021 Jun 10; Virtual.

Carlson ER. Current concepts in the surgical management of oral and maxillofacial pathology. Presented at Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Annual Meeting (Invited Lecture); 2021 May 13-14; Jacksonville, FL.

Carlson ER. Change: The pathway to durable faculty development. Presented at Emory University School of Medicine Robert A. Bays Lecture (Invited Lecture); 2021 Mar 11; Atlanta, GA.

Carlson ER. HPV-related oral and throat cancer. Screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Presented at HPV, Cancer, and Dental Health Providers Symposium, Tennessee Dental Hygienists’ Association (Invited Lecture); 2021 Mar 5; Virtual.

Carlson ER. Human papillomavirus (HPV) related oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Presented at Second District Dental Society (Invited Lecture); 2021 Feb 18; Maryville, TN.

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The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Eric R. Carlson, DMD, MD, FACS

Clinical Focus

Research Focus

Education

Certifications

Professional Affiliations

Published Books

Published Book Chapters

Current Publications

Current Presentations

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Support The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine